Psychology masters programmes

MSc postgraduate degrees in Psychology at Plymouth University

Plymouth’s MSc programmes help students develop a sophisticated understanding of psychological research, helping you sharpen your research questions, gain expertise in cutting edge research methodologies and, preparing you to communicate your work to have a real impact.

The MSc Psychology is a ‘conversion’ course, designed to allow graduates from other disciples to gain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

GBC is the form of professional accreditation that is required for many careers that you may pursue with a psychology degree, as well as for advanced professional training in psychology, including the clinical doctorate (DClinPSY) or chartered status as a health or occupational psychologist.

The MSc in Psychological Research Methods is an opportunity for students to gain a fundamental grounding in psychological research. Many of our students return from careers in industry to gain new skills and insights. We equip our students with the skills and experience to answer complex questions in basic and applied psychological research.

Over 25% of our students continue with their research taking up full time doctoral training on graduation, with many others taking up research roles across a range of sectors.

Other masters courses at Plymouth

If you have not yet completed an undergraduate degree, we also offer a 4-year undergraduate masters course, the MPsych (Hons) Advanced Psychology. The first three years are the same as our BSc (Hons) Psychology course, and are followed by a specialised year in clinical psychology, behaviour change, or brain sciences. You can apply for this course directly through UCAS, or existing BSc students can apply to transfer to it during their degree, subject to availability of places. As an undergraduate masters, it is included in your SLC undergraduate loan, meaning your monthly repayments are not increased.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Nuria Sinol-Llosa/Dr Sabine Pahl:

Does green space make us more active?

Nuria’s MSc research built on a growing body of evidence that green space is psychologically healthy, and showed that behavioural intentions to exercise are significantly higher when physical activity is presented in a natural context.

Konna Beeson/Dr Giorgio Ganis:

Is lack of pleasure (anhedonia) a motivational deficit?

Konna made EEG recordings from 17 volunteers and found clear correlations between anhedonia and motivational deficits. EEG analyses found anhedonia-specific activity within frontal regions, as well as an interaction between anhedonia and motivation. Konna’s results expand upon a growing consensus that anhedonia is a motivational deficit, and suggest reward-based interventions may be undervalued as part of broader packages of treatment for affective disorders, including depression.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Helena Rant/Dr Alison Bacon:

How does Burlesque impact on female wellbeing?

In 2016 Helena’s MSc project addressed concerns that the recent popularity of Burlesque theatre, and claims that it empowers and boosts body image and confidence in participants, might be overblown. Helena found that although burlesque enhanced wellbeing for some, body image might also be harmed, and her research highlights risks attached.